SIL DESIGN
While functional safety is getting increasing importance in the design of industrial processes, the SIL assessment has now become a standard in this field to evaluate the level of security guaranteed on an industrial site. The SIL - Safety Integrity Level - is a measure of the level of security provided by a technical measurement of a risk control system (cf. IEC 61508 & 61511 standards).
More than safety commands, SIL certified signaling functions
BERNARD CONTROLS offers weatherproof & explosionproof quarter-turn and multiturn actuators specially designed and SIL certified according to the latest & more demanding revision of the standard - Ed 2). Thanks to a fully dedicated control board and to an absolute position encoder with built-in self-test, BERNARD CONTROLS INTELLI+® ACTUATORS are SIL 2 certified for the following safety integrated functions:
ESD Open / ESD Close / ESD Stayput.
And in 1oo2 configuration, INTELLI+® ACTUATORS are SIL3 capable for ESD Close / ESD Open.
Moreover, if sensors leading to an emergency shut-down (flow, pressure, smoke...) are subject to the requirements of SIL assessment, the signaling of the actuator also proves to be a key element of the Safety Instrumented System. Indeed, in case of emergency, ensuring the good functioning of safety commands is not enough: the accuracy of signaling data is essential to make the good decision and activate the ESD functions. Relying on many years of customers' feedback, BERNARD CONTROLS has then included this key criterion in its SIL specifications and offer SIL2 assessment on the following signaling functions:
Valve open / Valve closed / 4/20mA analog signal feedback (optional function).
Finally, thanks to the absolute position encoder with built-in self-test, no need to operate the actuator to ensure the SIL certification of these functions.
More information about SIL certified BC Actuators on our dedicated catalogue.